Self-inflating tire.



J. FERNANDEZ.

SELF INPLATING TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.17, 1914.

VIM 1f w 1 7 3. Y 6 f Mi f 7.. @/J 1 i 1 if I 111W 4. z nu 00 Jos FERNANDEZ, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SELF-INFLATING TIRE.

nieuwe.

Specicationiof Letters Patent.

Patentedfllan. 19, 1215.

Application led March 17, 1914. Serial No. 825,312.

To all lwhom t may concern.

Be -it known that I, Jos FERNANDEZ, a.

citizenv of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county ofHarris and State of TeXas,.have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Inflating Tires, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to pneumatic tires for vehicle wheels and more Vparticularly to the means whereby such tires are inflated, suchmeans being `of the automatic type and operable by the weight sustained by the tire. i

The invention relates to the type of tire infiaters which is automatic in operation and embodies a cylinder, a spring actuated piston arranged to operate within the cylinder, connecting means between such cylinder and rim of t'he'vehicle wheel and a hollow stem extending from the piston and arranged to operate within the tire, the open ing or passage through such stem being controlled by means of 'a valve which opens to i admit compressed air to pass from the cylinder into the tire and which closes to prevent any `escape of pressure from the tire.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated and claimed, and as shownin the accompanying drawing which is a transverse section of a pneumatic tire and compressor embodying the invention. j The invention is adapted to be applied to' pneumatic tires of any type.l

The drawing illustratesa tire embodving a casing A and inner tube B, rim C, felly D and securing rings E. V

Within the tire is arranged a cap 1, head 2 having an outlet 3 and hollow stem 4, the latter being adapted to operate in a hollow connection 5 to the inner end of which is fitteda nut 6 and washer 7. The hollow connection 5 is formed at its outer end with an exteriorly threaded head 5, whichv is adapted to screw 'into an opening 5b ormed in a disk 12 in which is litted nipples or short tubes 8. yA 'gland 10 is placed within the opening 5b and acts in conjunction with the head 5t1 of the hollow connection 5 to confine a packin 9 by means of which a tight joint is malntained between the stem 4 and parts 12 and 5. A piston 13 arranged to operate Within a cylinder 19 is provided with packing rings 14 and has the hollow movement in one direction.

stem 4 attached .thereto and is provided with a valve 11 which opens inward and closes by an outward movement, thereby admitting of air compressed within the cylinder 19 passing through the stem 4 into the tire, while at the same time loss of pressure from such tire is prevented. An expansible helical spring 15 is arranged within the cylinder 19 and normally exerts a pressure upon the piston 13 to hold the same at the limit of its An inwardly opening valve 16 is located at the outer end o the cylinder' 19 to admit air into such cylf inder upon the relatively .outstroke of the piston. The instroke of the piston is that movement whereby the piston travels from the part 12 toward the end of the cylinder having the valve 16'and the outstroke is that movement whereby the piston travels from the end of the cylinder having the valve 16 toward the end closed by means of the disk or part 12. A cover 18 is fitted to the end of the cylinder having the valve 16 and protects such valve and is formed in its edge with small openings 17 for the admission of air upon the outstroke of the piston.

The nipples or short tubes 8 act as breathers for the ingress of air upon the instroke of the piston and for the egress of air upon the outstroke of such piston. The nipples or short tubes 8 further provide means for oiling the interior of the cylinder and also serve as means for adjusting the stroke of the piston. The nipples of short tubes S are threaded to lopenings formed in the disk 12 and may be turned so as to project beyond thepinner face of the part 12 to a greater or less distance according to the length of stroke of the piston required.

The inner ends of the nipples or tubes 8 are formed with notches 8a to prevent closing of'such nipples by the piston when the latter is in engagement with the inner ends of such nipples.

When the parts are properly assembled the piston 13 is held at the limit of its outward .movement by means of the nipples or short tubes 8 and by means of the spring 15 whichl normally exerts/a pressure thereon.

When thatpart of the tire opposite the cap j iet air passing through the hollow stem 4 into the tire. When the stem is relieved from the load pressure 1t, the stem, and the piston 13 are moved outward by the spring 15, such j the advantages of the construction and movement of the piston drawing a free charge of air into the cylinder through the valve controlled inlet 16. When the stem l is again moved by the load pressure the operation is repeated. thereby automatically charging the tire and keeping the same in-` flated. By making the tubes 8 of sufficient length and by proper adjustment thereof in the manner stated movement of the stem 4:

and piston 13 may be regulated and as a result the degree of inflation of the tire controlled.

p From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingl2 or the method of operation will be readily ap-- parent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation 4of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely ilustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within, the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isc- In means for automatically inflating pneumatic tires, the same comprising acylinder, a spring actuated piston arranged to operate within the cylinder and a hollow stem connected with such piston and extending into the tire to be inflated, said cylinder and stem having valve controlled openings, and nipples or short tubes threaded into an end of the cylinder and adapted to engage the piston to limit the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOS FERNANDEZ. lVitnesses:

ISAAC GARZA, ALBERTO SABA. 

